Trolley-pole.



J. LEDWINKA.

TROLLEY POLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1909.

Patented June 9, 191i 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

.. WAsHlNu'roN. D/c.

- J. LEDWINKA.

TROLLEY POLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1909.

Patented June 9, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (20.. WASHINGTO D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH LEDWINKA, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 TRAGKLESSTROLLEY COMPANY OF AMERICA, A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TROLLEY-POLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June a, 1914.

Application filed September 27, 1909. Serial No. 519.849.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Josnrn LEDWINKA, asubject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at Philadelphia, inthe county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented anew and useful Trolley- Pole, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in trolley poles, and moreparticularly to trolley poles adapted to be used on trackless trolleysystems, wherein two conducting wires are used, one to supply currentand the other to return the current to the source of supply.

In trackless trolley systems, the propelled vehicles run upon thestreets and do not use car tracks. In such systems it is necessary thatwhen two propelled vehicles meet, using the same set of overhead wiresand going in opposite directions the trolley pole of each vehicle mustbe transferred from one to the other, as the current collector orcarrier cannot pass each other.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a trolley pole that canbe easily and quickly transferred from one car to another, and thecircuit established between the conducting wires and the car motor.

Another object is to provide a trolley pole that will disconnect itselfinstantly from its fastenings should the overhead trolley or carrier becaught in the overhead wires.

Another object is to provide a safety device that will hold the pole inplace, but will allow the pole to be disconnected whenever the pullexceeds a certain limit.

Another object is to provide a swivelsocket device, whereby the pole canbe swung in a circle without breaking the electric circuit.

Further objects will more definitely ap pear from the detaileddescription to follow.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which iFigure 1 is a view in perspective of my improved trolley pole, asattached to an electric'vehicle. Fig. 2 is a view, partly in section, ofthe trolley pole and the swivel device in which contact is made. Fig. 3is a top view of the safety device, and a cross sectionof the pole insitu. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the swivel socket and itsfastening means.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

The drawings illustrate my improved trolley pole as adapted for use on atrackless trolley system. As shown, 1 represents the trolley pole,preferably made of lined conduit-pipe to accommodate the conductingwires 2, 2 passing therethrough. In the preferred form of my invention,the lower end of the pole is provided with a coupling 3 adapted toreceive and hold the metallic contacts 9 and 10, which are connectedwith the wires 2, 2. These contacts are circular (see Fig. 4), the lowerends of each being provided with slots (not shown) to admit of theircontraction and expansion. The contacts are separated from each otherand held in place by suitable insulation 11. The coupling 3 is adaptedto receive a socket 4, provided with a swivel joint 8, and secured tothe vehicle body 7 by the bracket 12. The socket 4 is provided withmetallic contacts 13, 14. The contact 13 is circular, having slots 15,15 therein to permit of its expansion or contraction, and is adapted toreceive the contact 9. The contact 14 is round and provided with a slot16 to permit of its insertion in the contact 10. The contacts 13, 14 arealso suitably separated from each other and held in'place by insulation17, and they are connected respectively to the motor circuit wires, 1819.

To the upper end of the pole 1 is secured a funnel-shaped L 20, whichprevents the wires 2,2 leading therefrom from cutting on the edge. Theupper end of the pole and the L are provided with rubber plugs 21, 21through which the wires 2, 2 pass to hold the wires in place and makethe construction waterproof. Secured to the upper end of the pole by'asuitable clamp 22 is the flexible steel cable 23 leading to the trolleycarrier or wheel. This steel cable is to take the pulling strain in casethe trolley carrier or wheel should get caught in the overheadconstruction. Both wires 2, 2 and cable 23 are suitably taped to insurewaterproof construction.

In order to maintain the pole in place and prevent its displacement fromits normal position, should it be subjected to pulling strains, Iprovide a safety device 24:, consisting of a flat spring 25 bent overupon itself and shaped to encircle the pole 1, while the ends 26, 26 ofthe spring 25 are bent out wardly in order to facilitate and guide theentrance of the pole. Tension of the spring 25 around the pole ismaintained by means of the tension adjusting mechanism consisting of athreaded screw 27, the nut 28 and the coiled spring 29. By means of thisten sion-adjusting mechanism any required tension on the pole 1 can bemaintained so that the pole cannot be pulled out unless the pullingstrain exceeds a definite amount. The sprin 25 is secured to the vehiclebody 7 by the circular clamp 30 adapted to engage the rod 31 of the body7. Any other suitable securing means may, however, be used.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, I provide a device to keepthe pole 1 in the socket 4; so as to maintain good electricalconnections between the contacts. This device consists of adownwardly-extending finger or member 32 secured to the pole l by thebracket 33, the finger 32 being adapted to pass under the extension 34secured to the body 7 by the bracket 35. If the pole should be drawn outof and released by the safety device 24, it would take the positionindicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. If the pole were righteol andreplaced in the safety device, the finger 32 would pass under theextension 34, thereby forcing the pole into the socket a andestablishing good electrical connections therein.

It is apparent that whileI have shown and illustrated a trolley poleadapted for use on a trackless trolley system, it is capable of beingconstructed for use on ordinary street railway cars, without departingfrom the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination, a support, a trolley pole pivoted to said support,and means for normally maintaining said trolley pole in a predeterminedposition with respect to said support, said maintaining means beingadapted to be released when an undue pressure is exerted upon saidtrolley pole in a direction to tilt the same about its pivot.

2. In combination, a support, a trolley pole connected to said supportso as to be capable of being swung about the same, and means fornormally maintaining said trolley pole in a predetermined position withrespect to said support, said maintaining means being adapted to bereleased when an undue pressure is exerted upon said trolley pole in adirection to swing the same with respect to said support.

3. In a trolley pole system, the combinathan with a trolley pole, of asocket to receive said pole, a safety device engaging said pole toprevent its disengagement from said socket, and means cooperating withsaid safety device for predetermining the pressure of said device uponthe pole to maintain said pole in normal position.

4. The combination with a pivoted trolleypole, of a safety deviceengaging said pole to maintain said pole in its normal operativeposition, said safety device being adapted to release said trolley polewhen an undue pressure is exerted upon the same in a direction to tiltthe trolley pole about its pivot, and a tension mechanism cooperatingwith said safety device for predetermining the pressure of said deviceupon said pole to Elttlll'ttlll'l it in said normal operative posiion.

5. The combination with a trolley-pole, of a propelled vehicle, a socketcarried thereby to detachably receive the lower end of said pole, andmeans for maintaining said pole in said socket while the pole is in itsnormal operative position, but permitting said pole to be released fromsaid socket when said pole is moved out of its normal operativeposition.

6. The combination with a trolley-pole, of a propelled vehicle, a socketcarried thereby to detachably receive the lower end of said pole, and alocking device for insuring good electrical connection between said poleand said socket when the pole is in its normal operative position, butpermitting said pole to be released from said socket when said pole ismoved out of its normal operative position.

7. The combination of a trolley-pole, of contacts carried by the lowerend of said pole, a propelled vehicle, a socket carried thereby todetachably receive the lower end of said pole, contacts in said socket,and a locking device for insuring electrical connection between saidcontacts when the pole is in its normal operative position, butpermitting said pole to be released from said socket when said pole ismoved out of its normal operative position.

8. The combination with a trolley-pole, of a socket carried by the lowerend of said pole, a propelled vehicle, a socket carried thereby todetachably receive said firstsocket to establish electrical connectionbetween said vehicle and pole, and means for locking said pole in saidsecond socket when said pole is in its normal operative position, butpermitting said pole to be released from said socket when said pole ismoved out of its normal operative position.

9. The combination with a trolley-pole, of a socket carried by the lowerend of said pole, a propelled vehicle, a socket carried thereby, saidsockets being adapted to detachably engage each other to establishelectrical connections there between and a lock ing device to maintainsaid sockets in electrical contact while said pole is in its normaloperatiVe position, but permitting said pole to be released from saidsocket when said pole is moved out of its normal operative posltion.

10. The combination with a trolley-pole, of a socket carried by thelower end of said pole, a propelled vehicle, a pivoted socket carriedthereby, said sockets being adapted to detachably engage each other toestablish electrical connections there between, means for automaticallylocking said sockets in electrical contact upon the placing of said polein normal operative position, and means engaging the said pole tomaintain it in said normal operative position. v

11. The combination with a trolley pole, of a propelled vehicle, asocket carried thereby to detachably receive the lower end of said pole,and means for automatically locking said pole in said socket upon theplacing of said pole in normal operative position. v

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOSEPH LEDWINKA. Witnesses:

CHARLES BERG, B. DRYFOOS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Washington, I). C.

Commissioner of Patents,

